[phillryu]

Below I have included the same blurb I am sending out to all sites.

iStorm is an innovative collaboration program that is neither a word processor nor a web browser. With Rendezvous technology, a group of creative people can set up an online collaboration and start being creative immediately.
With the elegant one-button user interface, the users will grasp the coordination of the group
work-flow in an instant. Without the overbearing buttons, layers upon layers of menu options, and unsolicited "helper" robot, the group will lose no time and concentrate on what's on their minds.

During the last decade, all creative programming energy went into developing endless 3D shoot-them-ups and brick-walling corporate interests. Now we claim back the benefits of massively networked environment and apply it to liberate the poet, the humorist, and the scientist in all of us, normal people. Users of all ages are encouraged to try iStorm with friends and find out how much unique talent they've had hidden in them all along.

Early adopters of iStorm version 1.0 will get a free update with "iChalkboard" and "babyTeX", an integrated TeX interface for mathematical equations.

* Distraction-free One-button interface for creative collaboration of any kind.
* Zero configuration hassle with Rendezvous technology for LAN.
* Automatically recognize http links and activate them.
* Real time update of edited document.
* Drag and drop jpg, gif, tiff files into the document.
* Innovative emotion conveying chat module.
* Scratch Pad to while away.
* Free upgrade to the next version with net-enabled chalkboard and TeX support
* Requires OS X Jaguar (10.2) or later, LAN and Broadband internet connection.

Website: www.mathgamehouse.com/istorm
Download: www.mathgamehouse.com/istorm/download.html
Email: [email protected]

Thanks to everyone who contributed in the beta testing! We are also sending this info out to www.versiontracker.com, apple, download.com, and some mac news sites. If you have any questions, post here.

-phillryu

[phillryu]

Just adding some screenshots.

[phillryu]

Oh, thanks everyone for the fantastic reviews at versiontracker!

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/16513

[Guy Incognito]

Looks pretty freakin' amazing...but one question: why brushed-metal?

[phillryu]

Originally posted by Guy Incognito:
Looks pretty freakin' amazing...but one question: why brushed-metal?

It's a matter of taste. And plus, this app is supposed to resemble an "iApp" as close as possible.

[Sharky K.]

nice app but people get sick of the iName and or brushed look...

[IEEE1394]

Hey, nice app!

I'd like to make a suggestion for the next version, which would indeed make this a serial-double-homicide-killer app.

Voice conferencing: I'm not sure how hard this would be to implement, but it would negate the need for speed typing skills.

[phillryu]

Brushed app: It's not going to change for now. We're going to concentrate on things like improved stabillity, easier online networking, more responsiveness, and 10.1 support before the interface.

Name: Well, it actually makes sense compared to other iApps. "i" stands for internet right? And how is iMovie internet integrated? iStorm stands for Internet Brain Storm.

Video conferencing is not going to happen. First of all, I don't even own a webcam. Second, I heard rumors that Apple is going to integrate it into iChat or something. So to me, its not worth pursuing.

[danielb0101]

Originally posted by phillryu:

During the last decade, all creative programming energy went into developing endless 3D shoot-them-ups and brick-walling corporate interests. Now we claim back the benefits of massively networked environment and apply it to liberate the poet, the humorist, and the scientist in all of us, normal people. Users of all ages are encouraged to try iStorm with friends and find out how much unique talent they've had hidden in them all along.

-phillryu

That is an amazing statement. Did you write that? I would like to quote that in a paper I am writing, if you don't mind. How shall I reference it?

Cheers to the small developers!

Regards,

Daniel

[smeger]

This is pretty damned spiffy! It makes me wish I was collaborating on something...

[phillryu]

My dad and I used iStorm to make that together.

[C.J. Moof]

Best. Helpdocs. Ever.

And the app is pretty cool too. Here's my initial feedback:

How come if I put my name and default document name in the prefs, then start a new document, I'm asked to name the document and to choose my name? I just did that.

If I can't actually embed movies and mp3's, why does it look like I succesfully did? I can drag a movie in and play it, but my fellow participants can't see it. That goes against the main concept of what I'm seeing is what you're seeing.

Still, those are minor bumps compared to the concept here. It's enough to make me wish that my creatives were more spread out so it would solve a problem! (they're still better off yelling at each other while in the same room...)

Regards,
CJ

[El Pre$idente]

I never used Netmeeting but isn't the concept similar - a shared whiteboard?

[phillryu]

I am not sure about those preferences not sticking. I'll look into that.

The mp3/movie bug is a bug related to an rtf document. Try putting one into text editor, same problems. We may work on this on a later version of istorm.

[phillryu]

Hmmm, never heard of net meeting before. But I just found this.

NetMeeting delivers a complete Internet conferencing solution for all Windows users with multi-point data conferencing, text chat, whiteboard, and file transfer, as well as point-to-point audio and video. Read about how some leading businesses and educational institutions are using NetMeeting to save time and money and to increase productivity.

Hmmm I guess it does have a "shared blackboard", but I'm not sure how it works. However, looks like it doesn't have a shared document. Plus, its an MS app!

[El Pre$idente]

Netmeeting has been included with Windows for something like 5 years (almost). I thinkI launched it once but couldn't connect to anyone in the chatrooms because they were all having sex. Never tried again.

Maybe iStorm is the mythical iPawrn everyone talks about?

[phillryu]

iPawrn sounds like a great idea, but its probably not going to happen.

[C.J. Moof]

Originally posted by phillryu:
I am not sure about those preferences not sticking. I'll look into that.

The mp3/movie bug is a bug related to an rtf document. Try putting one into text editor, same problems. We may work on this on a later version of istorm.

I just dumped an mp3 into a Textedit doc, save, quit, open, played mp3.....

I've seen the prefs not show up on the 3 machines I put iStorm on- it's repeatable.

Once I used Netmeeting running on VPC to show some .ppt to clients 1K miles away. Pretty nifty. It includes video and voice conf, as I remember.
It doesn't strive to do realtime collaboration, it's better for presenting prepared content.
And it doesn't support the magic of zeroconfig!

[El Pre$idente]

Originally posted by phillryu:
iPawrn sounds like a great idea, but its probably not going to happen.

Oh come on, come clean. iStorm 1.0 is really the codename for iPorn Beta 0.5.

[phillryu]

Ok that preferences thing appears to be a bug. Look for a fix in 1.01.

Try saving that text edit doc and transferring it to another comp. Or deleting the original mp3. I believe its like an alias, not the real file, so it doesn't transfer in iStorm.

[phillryu]

About the prefs not sticking... the problem was because you did not restart iStorm after changing the preferences. We may make all preferences change immediately in future versions. (As of now only license info changes auto.)

Also, here is iStorm without metal. Judge for yourself what looks better.

EDIT: This is 2.0 Beta

[juanvaldes]

Originally posted by phillryu:
Video conferencing is not going to happen. First of all, I don't even own a webcam. Second, I heard rumors that Apple is going to integrate it into iChat or something. So to me, its not worth pursuing.

he said voice not video.

[phillryu]

Originally posted by juanvaldes:


he said voice not video.

Oops. Well, might as well use a telephone.... don't see much point in that.

[Guy Incognito]

Originally posted by phillryu:
Also, here is iStorm without metal. Judge for yourself what looks better.

I respect you and what you've done to the OS X community by providing us with an excellent product that wasn't available on OS X till now.

But changing the .nib file to an Aqua interface, telling people to compare the brushed-metal-look to the Aqua-look and calling it a day is ridiculous at best.

You left the 10-pixel border. You left brushed-metal elements, you left the view area in the main window too close to the toolbar.

Gimme a break...if you're gonna try to get people to say "brushed-metal looks better" then by all means use this deceitful method.

If you want true opinions, make an effort to comply with the Aqua look by creating some Aqua-ish icons, and removing that 10-pixel border.

[phillryu]

Originally posted by Guy Incognito:


I respect you and what you've done to the OS X community by providing us with an excellent product that wasn't available on OS X till now.

But changing the .nib file to an Aqua interface, and telling people to compare the brushed-metal-look to the Aqua-look is ridiculous at best.

You left the 10-pixel border, you left the brushed-metal-compliant graphics element, you left the view area close to the toolbar.

Gimme a break...if you're gonna try to get people to say "brushed-metal looks better" then by all means use this deceitful method.

If you want true opinions, make an effort to comply with the Aqua look by creating some Aqua-ish icons, and removing that 10-pixel border.

I am not going to create new icons so I can ask people which they like. And I didn't know that a 10 pixel border mattered that much. Incog, if you think this GENUINLY will sway your opinion on this program enough for you to buy it, tell me. I will make you a custom version with the the ten pixel spaces removed.

[C.J. Moof]

Originally posted by phillryu:
Ok that preferences thing appears to be a bug. Look for a fix in 1.01.

Try saving that text edit doc and transferring it to another comp. Or deleting the original mp3. I believe its like an alias, not the real file, so it doesn't transfer in iStorm.

It's not an alias, the stuff put into that rft doc becomes a package that contains a .mp3, a .tif and a .txt. Make one yourself and control-click on it, then view package contents.

[Spirit_VW]

Originally posted by phillryu:
About the prefs not sticking... the problem was because you did not restart iStorm after changing the preferences. We may make all preferences change immediately in future versions. (As of now only license info changes auto.)

Also, here is iStorm without metal. Judge for yourself what looks better.

EDIT: This is 2.0 Beta

I say keep the brushed metal.

[CheesePuff]

Brushed metal looks much better, even if you do take care of that 10 pixel border thing whats his face is blabbing on about.

Great app, btw!

[oVeRmInD911]

"Hey baby, wanna collaborate?"

"But we just met!"

"I understand, we can take it slow. Can I at least have your IP address?"

[godzookie2k]

this looks like a fantabulous application, I wish that I had some rendezvous multimac action to try it out on, but best of luck, looks great!

[phillryu]

Hmm I'll look into that RTF thing.

Thanks for all the suggestions and stuff. BTW, you CAN test iStorm locally. Just set up one window as a host, and use another window to connect.

Now since you all think its SUCH a great app, why don't you join the elite list of three people who's purchased it so far!

[torifile]

I almost didn't click into this thread because I thought you were spamming the boards, but I did anyway. WOW, what a great idea for an app. It looks good and if it works as well as it should, you've got a winner on your hands. I like brushed metal but if the app is not going to be single window, it should be aqua. I know, I know, iTunes can have other windows, but that's just WRONG.

[WJMoore]

Originally posted by phillryu:
Now since you all think its SUCH a great app, why don't you join the elite list of three people who's purchased it so far!

There's a difference between people who think it is a great app and those who will buy it. I'm sure there are many like me who thought, yeah that's a great idea and implementation. However I don't have a use for it at the moment nor do I have a suitable location (All PC's) to use it. So I won't be buying it. It's still a great app though

Wesley

[Rickster]

It's a nice app (and quite a cool concept) and a great use of Rendezvous. Which really makes me sorry to say I find the interface absolutely horrible.

The toolbar is non-standard, non-customizable, and non-helpful. Metal is not only used for no good reason, it's way overused. And there's an abundance of nonstandard controls and nonstandard uses of standard controls. The documentation is pretty decent, which is good since it's the only way to find out what some of the controls and options mean. It doesn't feel like a normal Mac OS X app, not even like an Apple iApp -- it's in a world of its own, and so I have to devote time to learning how to use it instead of just using it.

Please, read the Aqua Human Interface Guidelines; read 'em a few times, and look at Apple's work in between so you can understand what they mean as well as what they say. Then apply what you've learned to this app, and you'll have a real winner on your hands.

(Note: the opinions stated here are my own, and not [necessarily] those of my employer.)

[OverclockedHomoSapien]

Originally posted by Guy Incognito:


I respect you and what you've done to the OS X community by providing us with an excellent product that wasn't available on OS X till now.

But changing the .nib file to an Aqua interface, telling people to compare the brushed-metal-look to the Aqua-look and calling it a day is ridiculous at best.

You left the 10-pixel border. You left brushed-metal elements, you left the view area in the main window too close to the toolbar.

Gimme a break...if you're gonna try to get people to say "brushed-metal looks better" then by all means use this deceitful method.

If you want true opinions, make an effort to comply with the Aqua look by creating some Aqua-ish icons, and removing that 10-pixel border.

Careful, bud. You're becoming an Aqua-bitch.

[Xeo]

Originally posted by phillryu:
Oops. Well, might as well use a telephone.... don't see much point in that.

That attitude leaves much to be desired. Adding in voice support, although a huge task, would be awesome. Just saying, "might as well use a telephone" is wrong for so many reasons. A) The other person is far enough away to be long distance. That costs money by the minute. B) There is more than one other person involved and there is no conference calling available.

I know I'm working on a project with several other people. Two of us are in the US, but over 1000 miles away. The others are in different countries. I fall under both of those categories above. Anyone working on OpenSource software would likely be in the same situation. That's just one aspect of the market.

Now, I'm not saying, "Code support for this now!" but rather, I don't want you to dismiss something so quickly. Especially when it has so much potential.

With that in mind, I'm moving this to OS X - Software.

[phillryu]

Xeo, there's tons of other apps that attempt collaboration with voice chat, but the fact is, they just don't work very well. And I don't think I can do much better than that.

And about the aqua guidelines, I frankly don't care about them that much. In fact, take a good look at some of Apple's own apps, and see if they care! The iStorm interface (in my opinion) is good looking and functional. If you tell me what's wrong with it I might be able to improve it.

[Group51]

Originally posted by phillryu:
And about the aqua guidelines, I frankly don't care about them that much. In fact, take a good look at some of Apple's own apps, and see if they care!

Shurely Shome Mishtake? We don't need discuss why you should be guided by the guidlines do we?

[ambush]

Nice app..
Are you considering buying a booth at macworld... it would be worth it..

[phillryu]

My opinion too. Why should someone be telling me how I need to change it?

Originally posted by ambush:
Nice app..
Are you considering buying a booth at macworld... it would be worth it..

And I would buy a booth, if more people bought it lol. I am putting my hopes on a maccentral article, which might make some customers.

[moki]

Originally posted by phillryu:
And about the aqua guidelines, I frankly don't care about them that much. In fact, take a good look at some of Apple's own apps, and see if they care! The iStorm interface (in my opinion) is good looking and functional. If you tell me what's wrong with it I might be able to improve it.

I really hope you're kidding about not following the guidelines. A poorly designed/inconsistent UI may have more than a little bit to do with why your sales aren't where you'd like them to be.

Pursuant to that, also, you can't just toss an application out there and expect it to sell -- it takes work to properly market and promote your product. If you wrote some music, put it on a CD, and tossed it in the proper section in a music store, would you expect it to go gold?

[CheesePuff]

Originally posted by phillryu:
And I would buy a booth, if more people bought it lol. I am putting my hopes on a maccentral article, which might make some customers.

I think its MacTech who lets you get a booth inside theirs for a very small amount. Go ask them.

[torifile]

Originally posted by phillryu:
Xeo, there's tons of other apps that attempt collaboration with voice chat, but the fact is, they just don't work very well. And I don't think I can do much better than that.

And about the aqua guidelines, I frankly don't care about them that much. In fact, take a good look at some of Apple's own apps, and see if they care! The iStorm interface (in my opinion) is good looking and functional. If you tell me what's wrong with it I might be able to improve it.

That's a really bad attitude to have about it. You've gotten feedback from several people here saying that the UI needs work and you're saying, "No it doesn't because I think it looks good." Sure, GI's feedback was relatively non-helpful, but Rickster gave you some solid reasons WHY not adhering to the guidelines is a bad idea. And he's got some experience in this area.

Your vision is a good one, but the attitude you've presented leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe you should have someone else do your PR?

ps - If this app uses rendevous, don't people need to be on the same LAN? Wouldn't that mean that they're near one another? Am I missing something?

[andy_ghibertii]

I agree with Andrew, you should spend more time focusing on the interface and the guidelines. It is my opinion that you should stick with Aqua and read some more or have someone with a little more experience help you out.

Has potential...needs polish.

[phillryu]

Thanks guys, I'm sorry about my negative attitude. I was just a bit disappointed with the sales yesterday.

But now, two sales and a couple site license propositions later, I feel a bit more optimistic.

About the voice chat, I am really sorry, but at this point there is no way its going to be in iStorm. For now, iStorm needs more stability, polish on future features, and a bit of polish on the interface. (In my opinion, the toolbar is a bit non-aquaish, because the feedback from clicks was not very well implemented.)

Finally, at this point we (my dad and I) have no plans to travel to san fran to set up a booth . We live in CT, so maybe Boston? Depends how well it goes.

Again, sorry about my attitude yesterday.

-phillryu

[diskobolos]

Originally posted by phillryu:
And about the aqua guidelines, I frankly don't care about them that much.

Is the info in your profile correct, you're only 14? If so that would explain some things.

You got feedback from 2 highly respected OS X developers (Rick and Andrew), I think you should take it seriously.

Who are you targeting with this app? Are you talking to pros, do you expect people to use this in the office, is this a business tool, or a for fun kids thing? Because right now your interface looks more like a for fun kids thing. Yes the big smilely guy turns me off, the shiny round push button turns me off, the nonstandard "toolbar" turns me off, even the bushed metal turns me off... It looks more like a toy then something I'd get any work done in right now, looks more like hotline or something in that respects. I can see 2 teenage kids messing around with it for an afternoon. And if it appeals to that audience I'm not sure what you should expect for sales.

Nice app but because of the interface I'm not sure what to think of it. Is it timbuktu or hotline, is it a tool or just a toy? I'm sure you're tired of reading other people's opinions by now.

[phillryu]

Originally posted by diskobolos:

Is the info in your profile correct, you're only 14? If so that would explain some things.

You got feedback from 2 highly respected OS X developers (Rick and Andrew), I think you should take it seriously.

Who are you targeting with this app? Are you talking to pros, do you expect people to use this in the office, is this a business tool, or a for fun kids thing? Because right now your interface looks more like a for fun kids thing. Yes the big smilely guy turns me off, the shiny round push button turns me off, the nonstandard "toolbar" turns me off, even the bushed metal turns me off... It looks more like a toy then something I'd get any work done in right now, looks more like hotline or something in that respects. I can see 2 teenage kids messing around with it for an afternoon. And if it appeals to that audience I'm not sure what you should expect for sales.

Nice app but because of the interface I'm not sure what to think of it. Is it timbuktu or hotline, is it a tool or just a toy? I'm sure you're tired of reading other people's opinions by now.

Who's Rick and Andrew? (I mean what did they make?) If that's the Andrew from Ambrosia, I'm going to die from being so embarassed!

Anyway.

Yeah, I'm 14, but my dad (who's 39) was the main guy on the team.

iStorm is meant MOSTLY for educational use. Our ideal target audience was the state of Maine So I suppose its ok if it has a non professional interface... however, I never meant it to be like so.

By non standard you mean the click response? Because the look itself is pretty similar to toolbars in Apple's iApps. Same with the brushed metal. And the button was made large to emphasize the simple interface.

We may provide an option in future versions to turn off the emoticons. (Keep the emotions, but turn off the icon).

-phillryu

[mrfrost]

Originally posted by phillryu:


Who's Rick and Andrew? (I mean what did they make?) If that's the Andrew from Ambrosia, I'm going to die from being so embarassed!

-phillryu

Rick : Omnigroup
Andrew : Ambrosia

But don't you go dying on us now ok...

[invisibleX]

Originally posted by phillryu:
My opinion too. Why should someone be telling me how I need to change it?



And I would buy a booth, if more people bought it lol. I am putting my hopes on a maccentral article, which might make some customers.

Email me at [email protected] for some huge publicity (seriously).

[mmurray]

This looks like a nice idea. A couple of comments.

(1) Rendezvous is neat but if I am on a LAN with someone I can
work down the corridor and talk to them. Can you run it over the internet?

(2) TeX is a nice idea. MathML is also a possibility but I don't know much about it.

(3) A market you might not have thought of is teaching. There is a lot of push on in Universities to do things on the web or over the internet. A lot of places are moving into distance education. This application sounds like it would be really useful for that kind of teaching.


Michael

PS. I am not a well known programmer :-)